Everyday People

This intimate ensemble drama tells the interconnected stories of a group of racially diverse New Yorkers who rub elbows in Raskin's, a venerable Brooklyn diner and NYC institution whose Jewish owner has just revealed he plans to sell off the place to make way for condominiums and newer, more "gentrified" establishments. Told over the course of a single workday, the film challenges conventional assumptions about class and racial identity. If you think you know everyday people by what they look like ... you better think again.

The diverse ethnic population of New York City provides some food for thought in EVERYDAY PEOPLE. A Brooklyn diner called Raskin's forms the hub for much of the film's activity, and with its ability to draw a clientele of varied ethnicity, the popular restaurant creates a unique and vibrant atmosphere that is seldom matched across the United States. But when a neighborhood courts popularity, the double-headed threat of rent hikes and gentrification loom large. As the Jewish owner of Raskin's announces he's selling up to make way for condominiums and other establishments, it still comes as a shock to most of the regulars. Filmed to highlight a day in the life of the diner, director Jim McKay opens up a can of racial worms with this explosive drama, and neatly highlights some pertinent issues of class and ethnicity in contemporary society.

Jewish | New York City

Genre:

• Drama Movies